Transformer for oil burner ignitor

ABSTRACT

A transformer for use with various makes of oil burner ignitors, requiring various mounting configurations has a housing and base with a plurality of mountings, selected ones of which can be aligned with attachment holes of various different makes of oil burner ignitors on an oil burner furnace such that the transformer may be mounted on several types of oil burner ignitor on various oil burner furnaces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil burner ignitor, in particular, to a transformer for an oil burner ignitor adapted to fit a wide variety of types of oil burner ignitors on oil burning furnaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Oil burning furnaces incorporate oil burner ignitors which are essentially electrical arcs. The electrical arcs are developed across two electrodes. To power the arc, a transformer is incorporated in the oil burner ignitor. Such transformers are known to be liable to failure and to require replacement with new transformers. There are many different brands of oil burners on the market. Such burners are of slightly different designs. In most cases however, the electrode housing has a hinged cover plate. The transformer is customarily mounted on the hinged cover plate. Each brand of oil burner has a mounting plate of its own special design. Each such burner ignitor has a transformer of its own design, which is adapted to be mounted only on the cover plate of that oil burner ignitor. When the transformer fails a service man is called.

[0003] In order to provide quick efficient service, the service man has had to either carry several different types of transformers or would have to determine which plate was necessary and order it. This could delay the replacement of the part and cause extended downtime of the furnace. Conversely, the service man would have to stock the many different types of replacement transformers, thus tying up company funds, and requiring storage space.

[0004] This is because the transformer design has two contacts which extend from the transformer to contact with the two electrodes in the ignitor. If the correct transformer is not used, or if the transformer is mounted incorrectly on the cover plate, then the transformer contacts would not contact the electrodes.

[0005] In some cases the service man would attempt to modify the mounting plate so as to accept a transformer of a different make from the make of the ignitor itself. This was often futile and resulted in an inoperative ignitor. The correct ignitor would eventually have to be supplied and the modified ignitor was often damaged and thus discarded. This would cause further revenue loss to the service company.

[0006] There is a need for a transformer for an oil burner ignitor that is adapted to fit the many different types of oi furnaces and ignitors on the market. This would reduce the amount of replacement parts carried in stock or by the service man, and free service company funds for other ventures. The serviceman would only have to carry one type of transformer. Delays in repair and costly downtime of furnaces would be avoided.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] With a view to dealing with the various problems relating to replacement of transformers on various makes of oil furnaces, the invention provides a transformer for an oil burner ignitor which transformer is provided with a housing and base which is adapted to mount on selected ones of various makes of oil furnaces, the base having with a plurality of mounting holes which can be aligned with attachment holes on mounting plates of various different makes of oil burners, whereby the transformer may be mounted on several types of oil burners for furnaces. This will eliminate the need for carrying several different replacement transformers for different makes of oil burner ignitors each of which has a specific mounting plate adapted to receive the transformer of a specific make.

[0008] The invention further provides such a transformer, and in which the housing and the base are an integral one piece molding.

[0009] The invention further provides such a transformer, and in which the base is formed with a plurality of tubular recesses, each having a closed end, the recesses defining the holes for attachment of the transformer to the ignitor.

[0010] The invention further provides such a transformer, wherein the ignitor plate has an opening therein, and in which the base is shaped and adapted to cover and close such opening and seal the same to prevent variation in the static pressure within the burner, during operation.

[0011] The invention further provides such a transformer, and in which the transformer components are located within the housing, and are enclosed within a potting compound therein.

[0012] The invention further provides such a transformer, and in which the housing defines a connection space therewithin, free of said potting compound, in which electrical connections may be enclosed

[0013] The invention further provides such a transformer, and in which electrical terminals are provided extending from the potting compound and which are adapted to receive electrical connectors for connecting with the ignitor.

[0014] The invention further provides such a transformer, adapter for use with oil ignitors, the ignitors having ground terminals, in which the ground terminals any be located at various points on the ignitor, and in which a ground connector is provided around the housing, the ground connector being such that it will connect with the ground terminal on the ignitor.

[0015] The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a transformer and housing illustrating the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a section along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective of a typical oil ignitor for a typical oil furnace (not shown), showing a transformer illustrating the invention mounted on a hinged cover plate; and,

[0023]FIG. 8 is a side elevation of FIG. 7 showing the mounting plate and transformer swung fully open, and showing a closed position in phantom.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be seen that the invention is illustrated there in the form of a transformer (10), suitable for mounting on various different oil furnaces, in a manner to be described below.

[0025] The transformer (10) has a housing (12) which is of generally wedge-shaped design, when viewed in side elevation. This shape is a matter of design. This shape suits the electronics for the transformer which are located within the housing. Other designs and shape may be selected for various different transformers, if desired. The transformer housing (12) has a base (14) extending in a planar fashion around its perimeter. The housing (12) and base (14) are preferably formed by injection molding techniques although other manufacturing techniques will clearly be applicable in some cases. The base (14) is formed with a plurality of mounting holes (16) (FIG. 4).

[0026] The holes are located so as to enable the transformer (10) to be mounted on oil burners or furnaces of various makes, in a manner described below.

[0027] Also secured on the underside of base (14) is a lengthwise generally L-shaped electrical contact strip (18) (FIG. 4). Strip (18) is located and dimensioned so as to act as a ground terminal for the transformer (10). It is of extended length and of L-shape, so as to contact ground connections (not shown) on oil furnaces of various different designs, as described below.

[0028] On the upper side of base (14) (FIGS. 2 and 3) there are a plurality of elongated screw receiving bodies (20). Bodies (20) are aligned with respective holes (16) in base (14). Bodies (20) are connected to reinforcing support walls (22) molded integrally with bodies (20) and base (14). Screw receiving bores (24) are formed in bodies (20), (FIG. 5) and register with holes (16) in base (14).

[0029] Transformer housing (12) defines a hollow open sided box like chamber (26) formed integrally with base (14) for receiving the electronic components (28) of the transformer, (FIG. 6). Any suitable potting compound (30) known per se is poured into chamber (26) and totally encloses components (28). Two terminal bodies (32) extend downwardly from components (28) side by side is spaced relation. In use two electrical high tension spring contacts (FIGS. 7 and 8) will be secured on the respective terminal bodies (32), for contacting components within the oil burner, described below. These however do not form part of the transformer when shipped, but are attached by the service man at the time of installation.

[0030] Low tension electrical wires (34) extend from within components (28) of the transformer, for connection to a supply of electrical power (not shown), but typically being the domestic power supply in the residence or building where the oil furnace is located.

[0031] There is also a connection (not shown) between the electrical components (28) and the ground contact strip (18).

[0032] At one end of the housing (12) the potting (30) is absent and the housing (12) defines in that region a junction box enclosure indicated as (36). This permits the service man to connect the wires (34) to a power source (not shown), and the connections can be coiled within the junction box enclsoure (36) for greater security. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a typical oil burner (40) which is normally mounted on an oil furnace (not shown) The burner (40) has an ignitor tube (42) which is directed into the flame chamber (not shown) of an oil furnace. An oil feed (not shown) feeds oil to the tube (42). Motor (44) drives a fan (not shown) which drives air through tube (42) and into the oil furnace. An electrode housing (46) is mounted between motor (44) and tube (42). Two high tension electrodes (48) extend from housing (46) into tube (42). A hinged swingable cover plate (50) is hinged to housing (46) to close off housing (46). A transformer (10) is shown mounted on plate (50). It will be seen that by this system, the transformer (10), mounted on plate (50)., form an assembly which can be swung away from housing (46), giving access to the underside of plate (50). This enables the service man to remove the screws (not shown) securing the transformer on the plate, and replace it with another transformer, by inserting screws from the underside of the plate (50). High tension connectors (52) are added at the time of installation, for contacting the electrodes (48) in the housing (46)

[0033] As explained above, such cover plates for mounting transformers, vary in design from one manufacturer to another. So also the design and configuration of the transformer will vary from one manufacturer to another. The existing cover plate (50) will have been provided with screw holes (54) (FIG. 7), when originally made, suitable for mounting the transformer of that make of furnace only. In most cases the plate (50) was hinged as at (56) to the housing (46). The plate closes the housing (50) and ensures that the static pressure within housing (50) remains at the level required for efficient operation of the burner (40).

[0034] In the past, if a service man normally required a transformer of the same make and design as the original. If he tried to fit a transformer of another make in its place, he would either have to replace the whole cover plate, or else drill new holes in the existing cover plate, so as to mount the new transformer on it. Those holes would have to be so placed as to cause the high tension connectors (52) to contact the electrodes (48). This was not always achieved successfully.

[0035] However, by the use of the present invention, the transformer housing (12) having a base (14) which multiple holes (16), enable the transformer (10) to be mounted on a variety of cover plates of different makes, without the need for drilling new holes. Generally only four holes will be used for mounting on a given cover plate.

[0036] The other holes which are not used, will simply be ignored. In fact they will not even be visible, since only four such holes will align with the holes in the cover plate. All of the holes (16) in the base (14) are aligned with respective bodies (20). All such bodies (20) are closed at their upper or outer ends (FIG. 5). Consequently, since the remaining holes are not used, they do not provide a means for escape of air, thus not affecting the static pressure of the burner.

[0037] Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiment, such are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, and comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on selected ones of various makes of oil burners; a plurality of mountings in said housing said mountings being located to be aligned with attachment holes on various different makes of oil burners, whereby the transformer may be mounted on several types of oil burners for furnaces.
 2. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the oil burners have mounting plates adapted to receive a transformer of a specific make, and wherein said housing is adapted to be attached to any one of various different types of mounting plates.
 3. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the housing has a base formed as an integral one piece molding.
 4. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the base is formed with a plurality of tubular recesses, each having a closed end, the recesses defining the mountings for attachment of the transformer to the ignitor.
 5. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the ignitor plate has an opening therein, and in which the base is shaped and adapted to cover and close such opening and seal the same to prevent variation in the static pressure within the burner, during operation.
 6. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 1, and wherein transformer components are located within the housing, and are enclosed within a potting compound therein.
 7. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 6, and wherein the housing defines a connection space therewithin, free of said potting compound, in which electrical connections may be enclosed
 8. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 7, and wherein electrical terminals are provided extending from the potting compound and which are adapted to receive electrical connectors for connecting with the ignitor.
 9. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the ignitors have ground terminals, in which the ground terminals any be located at various points on the ignitor, and wherein the transformer has a ground connector provided around the housing, the ground connector being such that it will connect with the ground terminal on the ignitor.
 10. A transformer adapted for use on various different makes of oil burners for oil furnaces, as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the tubular recess are formed with reinforcements connecting the recesses to the housing. 